Scotland keep Gregor Townsend's head above water with perfect riposte to criticism in Calcutta Cup thriller

Gregor Townsend's 100th Test match in charge of Scotland proved a landmark occasion as his team rediscovered the skill and devilment that has been conspicuous by its absence in recent games.

The hosts deserved this thrilling 31-20 bonus-point victory over England which takes the heat off the coach. Townsend came into the Calcutta Cup clash under enormous pressure but delivered as he has done so often in this particular fixture. It is now six wins and a draw in nine games against the English during his reign.

Pundits from south of the border will carp that Scotland only play well against England but Townsend is unapologetic about calling this the most important game of the season for his team. It was also arguably the most important game of his nine-year reign.

After being washed away by Italy in Rome last week, Scotland needed this to keep the coach's head above water.

There was no rain at Murrayfield for the Six Nations round-two showdown. Indeed, the sun shone all morning in an albeit chilly Edinburgh. There was certainly something in the air, a suggestion that Scotland were ready to atone for recent woes in Italy and here against Argentina in the autumn.

The eagerness in the stands was matched on the pitch and all Scotland’s big guns were fully firing. Finn Russell was back to his brilliant best and was involved in all three of his side’s first-half tries. Huw Jones scored a double - for the third time in the Calcutta Cup, remarkably. He now has eight tries in total against England, one better than the absent Duhan van der Merwe. Ben White is another who relishes this game and grabbed his fourth try against England. Jamie Ritchie, recalled after missing out in Rome, notched Scotland's other try, with Russell converting all four and adding a penalty.

Steyn and Dobie excel on the wings

It was heady stuff. Scotland dealt with England’s kicking game all day long, winning all the significant contestables, and for that kudos must go to Kyle Steyn and Jamie Dobie who were both outstanding. Steyn was named player of the match. The backline repaid the faith shown in them by Townsend, who selected the same seven as Rome.

No-one had to look too hard for the pantomime villain and Henry Pollock was booed as he warmed up. The peroxide England flanker lapped it up but he was unable to change the game when he came on. He did have one bullocking run but it was not enough.

If last week was turgid, this was electrifying. Scotland were 17-0 up after 15 minutes, by which point England were down to 14 men. Henry Arundell, a hero in round one against Wales, turned into the fall guy. And Scotland took full advantage.

Russell was tearing it up and nudged the home side ahead with a penalty in the fourth minute. The Scotland set-piece had been a shambles against Italy but was now on point.

The hosts were also up for the aerial battle and the first contestable kick went spinning back towards the England half, allowing Tuipulotu to hack on and put the visitors under pressure. That eventually led to Russell’s opener but worse was to follow for England. Scotland won their first scrum and continued to attack and Arundell was yellow-carded for failing to release.

Scotland plundered two tries while the prolific winger was in the bin.

Jones got the first but it was all about the touch from Russell. The stand-off was nonchalance personified as he flicked one-handed a pass to the centre who ran past Tom Roebuck to score as England’s blitz defence was outfoxed. Russell converted and Murrayfield roared.

This was more like it and the home supporters had only four minutes to wait for try number two. Russell sparked a break down the right and Kyle Steyn got within five metres. Scotland switched it and Tuipulotu found Ritchie lurking in the left-wing channel with a huge pass. The flanker gleefully crossed and Russell again added the extras.

England were shocked. They needed a way back and they got it through Arundell. The errant wing, who attended primary school in Edinburgh, had only been back on the field a couple of minutes but was the grateful recipient as George Ford produced a lovely dummy to play in his team-mate. Ford’s conversion reduced Scotland’s lead to 17-7 and the fly-half kicked a penalty soon after to make it 17-10.

Just when it looked as if England had weathered the storm, Scotland came charging back. And Russell was again at the heart of it. He seemed to stumble as he danced past a couple of defenders but was still able to kick ahead. What happened next was a personal nightmare for Ellis Genge. The England prop went to gather but spilled the ball a yard from his own line and White pounced gleefully. Russell converted to stretch Scotland’s lead to 24-10.

Arundell was having a tumultuous afternoon and it came to an end in the 37th minute when he took out Steyn in the air. It was a crazy challenge and earned him a second yellow card which translates to a 20-minute red card.

England survived the remainder of the half without further damage and won a scrum penalty early in the second period to cut the Scots’ lead to 11 points, with Ford kicking the three-pointer.

It wasn’t Scotland’s first transgression at the scrum and Amashukeli warned that the next one would mean a yellow card. England were looking dangerous but Rory Darge produced a thumping tackle to partly halt their momentum.

What happened next turned the game firmly back in Scotland’s favour. Ford went for the drop goal but it was charged down by Matt Fagerson. The Scotland substitute then gathered and hared off before playing in Jones who ran in his second try from the halfway line. It was sensational stuff and a lusty rendition of Flower of Scotland followed.

Russell’s fourth conversion meant Scotland’s lead was now 31-13 and England responded by withdrawing their captain. It had not been a day to remember for Maro Itoje.

Fin Smith entered the fray after Arundell’s 20-minute punishment had elapsed and it meant a reshuffle of the England backline.

Scotland’s substitutes were making their own impact. Dave Cherry went close and then Darcy Graham almost danced his way through.

At the other end, Scotland were defending heroically and the clock was ticking on England. They did manage one more score, Ben Earl going over in the the corner but it was far too late and Russell gleefully kicked the ball dead a couple of minutes later to seal a stunning victory which breathes new life into Scotland’s Six Nations campaign. Onwards to Cardiff.

Teams and scorers

Scorers: Scotland: Tries: Jones 2, Ritchie, White. Cons: Russell 4. Pens: Russell.

England: Tries: Arundell, Earl. Cons: Ford 2. Pens: Ford 2.

Yellow card: Arundell (8min).

20-min red card: Arundell (37min).

Scotland: T Jordan (D Graham 68); K Steyn, H Jones, S Tuipulotu, J Dobie (A Hastings 75); F Russell, B White (G Horne 58); N McBeth (P Schoeman 49), G Turner (D Cherry 50), Z Fagerson (E Millar Mills 50), G Brown, S Cummings, J Ritchie (M Fagerson h-t), R Darge, J Dempsey (M Williamson 57).

England: F Steward; T Roebuck, T Freeman, F Dingwall, 11 H Arundell (F Smith 57); 10 G Ford, A Mitchell (B Spencer 68); E Genge (B Rodd 57), L Cowan-Dickie (J George 57), J Heyes (T Davison 68), M Itoje (A Coles 57), O Chessum, G Pepper (H Pollock 57), S Underhill (T Curry h-t), B Earl.

Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia).

Attendance: 67,300.